The Scalphunters (1968)

Forced to trade his valuable furs for a well-educated escaped slave, a rugged trapper vows to recover the pelts from the Indians and later the renegades that killed them.

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writer:

William W. Norton (as William Norton)

Stars:

Burt Lancaster, Shelley Winters, Telly Savalas

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Burt Lancaster	...	Joe Bass
Shelley Winters	...	Kate
Telly Savalas	...	Jim Howie
Ossie Davis	...	Joseph Lee
Dabney Coleman	...	Jed
Paul Picerni	...	Frank
Dan Vadis	...	Yuma
Armando Silvestre	...	Two Crows
Nick Cravat	...	Yancy
Tony Epper	...	Scalphunter
Chuck Roberson	...	Scalphunter
John Epper	...	Scalphunter
Jack Williams	...	Scalphunter

Storyline

Trapper Joe is on his way to the town with all of his gain of hides of the last winter. However a group of Indians stops him and takes all of his hides, leaving him the escaped slave Joseph instead. But Joe has no use for Joseph and is determined to get his property back and follows them. Before he can do anything, the Indians are raided themselves by a group of scalphunters under the greedy Howie. Not only the hides, but also Joseph falls into their hands. Now Joe follows them alone and tries to trick the numerical superior group out of his hides.

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Plot Keywords:

slapstick comedy | escaped slave | satire | native american | kiowa indian | 

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Taglines:

He'll stop at nothing to take back what's his.

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Genres:

Comedy | Western

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Burt Lancaster and Shelley Winters reputedly had a two-year affair in the mid-'50s.

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Goofs

During the fight in the water, Joseph hits Joe on the head with the big rock. Joseph's hands come apart without the rock and then the rock reappears in his hands.

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Quotes

Joe Bass: What the hell are you standin' there for? Can't you speak English?
Joseph Lee: No, sir!
Joe Bass: Whattaya mean, 'No, sir'?
Joseph Lee: I mean I wish I didn't.

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Connections

Referenced in The Zombie Walks (1968)

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Soundtracks

In Our Lovely Deseret
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Eliza R. Snow
Music by George Frederick Root
Performed by Shelley Winters

User Reviews

Sophisticated Movie

The acting is brilliant, the picture is fast, thrilling and very comical. But this western, one of the best in the sixties, is not only fun stuff. "The Scalphunters" is a very morally movie, taking a stand against racism and white men's arrogance. Also we have a well constructed and sophisticated story about the fact that circumstances of dominance can change very quickly. So I guess Sydney Pollack and writer William Norton have read the plays of Bertolt Brecht very accurately and have understood the political message of it. See it and you will like it.

I gave ******** out of 10 stars.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 April 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Scalphunters

Filming Locations:

Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bristol Films, Norlan Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1